DARTMOUTH - Two UMass Dartmouth professors were detained by U.S. Customs and Border Control officers at Boston's Logan International Airport Saturday afternoon after returning from an academic conference in Paris, France.

According to a release from the university, the incident was "a direct result of President [Donald] Trump's executive order, signed Friday, restricting entry to the U.S. by citizens of seven foreign countries."

Both professors are legal permanent residents of the U.S. with green cards.

University officials were in close contact with the professors and reached out to federal authorities and local elected representatives as well as immigration lawyers and members of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. After three hours of detention, the two professors were released and have made it home safely.

The release went on to oppose the use of such an executive order:

"Now that our colleagues are safe, we want to be clear that we believe the executive order does nothing to make our country safer and represents a shameful ignorance of and indifference to the values that have traditionally made America a beacon of liberty and hope. This executive order is, furthermore, shockingly oblivious to the fundamental tenets of intellectual and academic freedom, which are enriched – not endangered – by international collaboration. As UMass President Marty Meehan said in a statement earlier today, 'we are honored that …international students and scholars choose UMass. They enrich our campuses and communities by providing a fullness of perspectives that helps fulfill our mission of research and public service….'

We wish to assure all members of our campus community that we will work with our colleagues in the UMass System and with others who are committed to individual and intellectual freedom to protect the rights, safety, and well-being of our international students, faculty, and staff."  

 

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